Swoop bike
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Swoop bike is a fictional Star Wars vehicle.
Swoop racing is a very popular sport in the Old Republic times (3,956 years before the Battle of Yavin), with simulcast hyperspace beacons instantly relaying results to countless worlds. Racers that consistently win can expect to gain a loyal following of fans, along with a sizeable amount of money, although sponsors often claim a large percentage of any earnings. Taris was the hub of the swoop racing circuit, despite a number of gangs and nefarious individuals that attempt to influence outcomes through intimidation. Other swoop bike circuits were found on Tatooine and Manaan.
Since swoop bikes lack all of the subsystems that weigh down more comfortable or practical vehicles, it is relatively inexpensive to build. Most are little more than a small cockpit mounted on as large a power source as can be found. The official circuit does have some size regulations to keep the field even, but they are mostly ignored. There is, however, a functional barrier on how powerful a repulsorlift engine can be before the energy output starts to do unpleasant things to the organic creature attempting to straddle it. As a result, most swoop bikes are similar in size, differing mainly in the application of shielding and the monitoring of energy flow.
Unlike podracing swoop bike racers did not race all together. The track was a straight line filled with obstacles. There would be three rounds. The racers who pass the finish line with the lowest time would go on to the next round. In the final round the racer with the lowest time would win the race and receive a prize.